3R, a post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation platform which through a user friendly remote device application that guides, assists and monitors the rehabilitation of stroke victims in their own homes, beat off strong competition from eight other teams to claim the top spot. The team behind the project intend to meet with the relevant stakeholders including patient groups to see how the concept could be rolled out in the near future.

Over 100 participants took part in the Hackathon organised in partnership with DCU Alpha as part of the Dublin 2016 International Biopharma Ambition Convention.

The nine teams, were supported by 37 mentors from a variety of sectors including biopharma, health, technology, software and others, and worked throughout the weekend to develop solutions to provide patients with better treatment outcomes as well as specific areas such as better drug logistics and waste management, more effective doctor-patient interaction and a better overall patient experience.

The judging panel for the event included John Pugh, Accenture Digital UK and Ireland innovation lead for life sciences, Kieran Daly, CTO and co-founder at Health Beacon, Audrey McDonnell, CEO and founder of Vanguard Health and Gerald Kierans, director of technical services at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Other project ideas included: Safe-Hands, a smart hand sanitising system which took second place overall in the competition; and Sun, Sea & Surgery, a pan European bed shortage solution which took third place.

Commenting at the event, MIT Hacking Medicine co-director, Khalil Ramadi said: “We were delighted to bring the MIT Hacking Medicine concept to Ireland for the first time, and have to commend all of the teams that participated. Each came with great ideas and worked all weekend to deliver really impressive concepts and pitches.”

Ronan Furlong, CEO DCU Alpha, added; “We are delighted with the first ever MIT Hacking Medicine event to be held here in Ireland. The teams, supported ably by a prestigious panel of mentors worked around the clock from Friday evening to develop concepts and prototypes which are of a really high standard. We would like to congratulate our winning team, on their innovative approach to the post-stroke rehabilitation process, which has the potential for time and money savings and in reducing the numbers of in-patients.

The Hackathon is part of the Dublin 2016 International Biopharma Ambition Convention, organised by Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI) and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT).

About Smart Chimps

Smart Chimps is the creation of freelance editor, writer and media trainer, Heather McLean. Heather has been involved in telecoms journalism since 2001, specialising in mobile since 2002. Find out more